Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with the advance of new research findings over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.
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Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to what Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked like in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research findings evolving over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interior furnishings have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.
]]> Interior of the parlor in the Governor's Palace, 1935. The painted portrait above the mantel represents King James I of England (and VI of Scotland). A handsome tilt-top mahogany tea table (accession # 1930-184) stands in the middle of the room, and an elegant card table stands to the left against the wall.

Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with the advance of new research findings over the years, the interiors of the Governor’s Palace have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of the building’s likely contents and room arrangements.

]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Detail photo of fireplace in the Great Room of the Market Square Tavern taken by F.S. Lincoln, 1935. The original tavern structure burned down in 1859 but the remains of the original foundations allowed for the restoration of the building to its eighteenth-century appearance. John Dixon constructed the original around 1749 and used it as a combination dwelling and shop. Later additions allowed the building to be converted into a tavern. 

In the 1930s, guests to Colonial Williamsburg could rent rooms in the tavern to experience some colonial ambiance. The Great Room served as a gathering spot for conversations, games, and special occasions. A cozy corner of the room for reading or resting centered around a paneled fireplace. A painting from the collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, titled Girl with Dove (accession # 1933.100.3), decorated the wall above the mantel.

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After its restoration in the early 1930s, guests at Colonial Williamsburg could rent rooms in the tavern to experience some colonial ambiance. The Great Room served as a gathering spot for conversations, games, and special occasions. Its focal point is a large round table encircled by Windsor chairs. A desk, high chest of drawers, side table, armchair, and ladder-back side chair complete the furnishings. ]]> Rights and reproductions]]>
Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to what Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked like in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research findings evolving over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interior furnishings have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.]]> Rights and reproductions]]>
Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to what Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked like in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research findings evolving over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interior furnishings have changed to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.]]> Rights and reproductions]]> Interior of Raleigh Tavern's Common Dining Room, 1935. The portrait above the fireplace features the Marquis de Lafayette (accession # 1930-593), the young French major general who commanded an American division under General Washington at the 1781 Battle of Yorktown. An early eighteenth-century gateleg dining table (accession # 1930-72) is also exhibited in the center of the room, surrounded by other furnishings and decorative items along the room's perimeter.

The Raleigh Tavern was the frequent scene of both jollity and consequence. Burned to the ground in 1859, the tavern was reconstructed from published illustrations, insurance policies, and archaeology that uncovered most of the original foundations. Interior furnishings and decor reflect curators' views in the 1930s as to how Williamsburg's historic interiors may have looked in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, with new research advances over the years, the Raleigh Tavern's interiors have changed and evolved to reflect a more authentic and accurate view of each room's likely contents and arrangements.

 

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